Asthma drugs have been linked to severe asthma attacks and deaths. The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk are no longer investigating Asthma Lawsuits.  The information on this page is provided for information purposes only.

Serevent and Advair side effects could increase the risk of severe asthma attacks or asthma-related deaths, especially among children. The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. previously reviewed potential Serevent and Advair lawsuits nationwide.

The drugs are approved for use by adults and children as young as 12 for the long-term prevention of asthma. While these inhalers have been shown to decrease the number of asthma attacks, they could severely increase the severity of the attacks that do occur. As a result, there have been a number of reported deaths and hospitalizations directly associated with the use of Serevent and Advair.

Asthma lawsuits were being investigated against the maker of Advair and Serevent, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, for failing to provide adequate warnings about the risk of death and serious physical injury associated with the use of their medications.

PROBLEMS WITH ADVAIR AND SEREVENT

The Serevent and Advair problems are linked to the active ingredient contained in both drugs, salmeterol. According to studies, salmeterol could cause a four times increase in the risk of asthma death. Advair is a combination drug containing salmeterol and a steroid.

In 2006, a “black box” warning was added to both drugs indicating an increased risk of asthma deaths. In 2007, an FDA advisory panel recommended that new warnings be added specifically identifying the risk of problems when used by children and also indicated that the drugs could increase the risk of asthma attacks requiring hospital treatment.

>>NEWS 11/28/2007: Warnings to be added about
Serevent and Advair Problems

Foradil is another asthma medication which is also a long-acting beta agonist, like Advair and Serevent. Foradil contains a different active ingredient, formoterol, which could also increase the risk of severe asthma attacks requiring hospitalization. The 2006 “black box” warning about the risk of asthma deaths was also added to Foradil, and potential Foradil lawsuits are also being reviewed.

SEREVENT AND ADVAIR LAWSUITS

The product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. previously reviewed potential Serevent, Foradil and Advair lawsuits nationwide. Many experts have indicated that the risk of asthma problems which could be caused by these drugs outweigh the benefits provided. The medications do not have sufficient warnings to alert physicians and asthma patients to the risk of death and serious physical injury which could result from use of the inhalers.